UTUSANRIAU.CO, HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 13 September 2021 - Redress, the world-leading NGO working to reduce fashion's waste, announces the winners of the Redress Design Award 2021, the world's largest sustainable fashion design competition that urgently seeks to catalyse multiple micro-circular economies around the world to reduce fashion's negative environmental impacts, following the Grand Final fashion show that featured real and virtual models that took place in Hong Kong on 11 September.
The Redress Design Award 2021 is supported by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the lead sponsor.
Emerging designer Jessica Chang from Taiwan won First Prize securing an unparalleled sustainable design collaboration with global outdoor lifestyle leader, Timberland (a VF Corp brand).
The Redress Design Award showcases what is possible when emerging designs are given an opportunity to innovate around sustainability.
We believe fostering talent and innovation is both good for business and a necessity for the future for our planet," said Sean Cady, Vice President, Global Sustainability and Responsibility, VF Corporation, who served as one of the judges.
"Sustainable fashion and circular design align with our purpose of bettering both people and the planet. Watching our global teams embrace this sustainability competition to mentor the next generation of designers is incredibly rewarding."
Redress' mission is to reduce fashion's waste and the competition's core criteria is to source and design into various waste materials to activate circular fashion.
Following the open call that drew applications from designers in 58 countries and regions, the resulting 10 finalists then sourced local waste - including end-of-roll, samples, secondhand clothing, school uniforms, boat covers, damaged camping equipment to place mats - to create their menswear and womenswear competition collections.
Redress' Founder, Christina Dean said, "Fashion's waste rates are unacceptable and change is not happening fast enough. Whilst recycling technology engineers search in labs for breakthrough recycling solutions and the finance community dither about financing much-needed recycling start-ups, Redress is increasingly promoting hyper-local waste sourcing solutions, spearheaded by fashion designers. Every textile deserves a second life."
Every second, the equivalent of one rubbish truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated globally, and textile waste is estimated to increase by 60% by 2030. Designers are said to influence around 80% of a product's environmental impact, which is why education is core to each Redress Design Award cycle.
As such, the finalists also took part in 10 days' of digital immersive educational challenges and masterclasses in the lead up to the Grand Final fashion show, including the 'Digital Zero-Waste Challenge with TAL Group and Browzwear', and 'Icebreaker Move to Natural Challenge' in the lead up to the Grand Final.**
SOURCE: Redress Design Award/editor warno